By Kathleen A. Cameron, BSPharm, MPH | 4.2.2020
One of the challenges many people may face during the
coronavirus pandemic is access to needed prescription and over-the-counter
medications. Our tips below offer advice for how to get your medications, as
well as find help affording them.
Have refills on hand
You should have at least a one-month supply of
prescription and over-the-counter medications that you need to manage ongoing
medical conditions. Some public health officials are even recommending a
three-month supply since it is uncertain how long the pandemic will last.
Fortunately, many insurance plans—including Medicare plans–are relaxing the
refill limitations so that you can obtain larger quantities of medications
right now. Check with your pharmacy and/or insurance plan to find out what
quantities are now allowed. Be sure to request a refill several days in advance
of when your current supply runs out and allow extra time for the pharmacy to
prepare it.
Avoid the pharmacy, if possible
Due to social distancing, shelter-at-home restrictions, and
quarantines, you should avoid going to the pharmacy. This is especially true if
you have ongoing health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and lung
disease that place you at high risk for complications if you become infected
with the coronavirus. If you need to consult with your health care team about a
refill, give them a call rather than going to their office.
Choose pick-up/delivery options
If you cannot get to your pharmacy to pick up prescriptions, you
can:
·
Ask your pharmacy to deliver your
medications to you. During the pandemic, many more pharmacies are offering free
or low-cost delivery.
·
Ask a family member, friend, or
neighbor to pick up your prescription. The HIPAA Privacy Rule allows the
pharmacist to give the filled prescription to a relative or friend. You do not
need to provide the pharmacist with the names of such persons in advance.
·
Many insurance companies offer a
mail-order option. Often, the mail-order company can provide larger quantities
of medications, such as a three-month supply, and a lower co-pay . If you have
Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D, call your plan to ask about receiving
your medications through mail order. Sometimes the cost you pay will change if
you choose to order medications by mail; be sure to ask your plan what those
costs are and whether the plan has a preferred pharmacy to use for mail-order
prescriptions. However, keep in mind that the mail-order option is best for
ongoing or maintenance medications and not for medications you need right away
to treat acute conditions.
Get help to afford your prescriptions
Financial challenges due to job loss, lack of insurance, or new
expenses resulting from the pandemic may make it tough to afford medications.
If you are on Medicare and have an income below $19,380
(single)/$26,100 (married) [higher in Alaska and Hawaii], you may be able to
get Extra Help, a program that lowers your prescription costs. You can apply
for Extra Help through Social Security or online at NCOA’s BenefitsCheckUp.
Note: Social Security has closed its
field offices during COVID-19, and there may be a lag time between when you
apply and receive a letter indicating you are receiving Extra Help. However,
you may be able to get your medicines at a lower price during this time through
the LI NET program. At the pharmacy, you will need to show you’re on Medicare,
attest to being low-income, and have less than a three-week supply of drugs on
hand. Learn more about LI NET.
If you can’t get Extra Help, there may be other programs that
can help you afford your medications. Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) allow
people taking brand-name medications to get them at a discount or for free from
the drug manufacturer. Some states have State Pharmaceutical Assistance
Programs (SPAPs) that help older adults pay for their Medicare prescription drug
plan and/or medications. It can also help to compare drug prices and look for
coupons at different pharmacies. It is recommended that you use one pharmacy
for all your prescriptions so that your pharmacist has a complete picture of
your medications and can identify problems, such as drug interactions or
duplicate therapy. Please note that many pharmacies will match a lower price
from another pharmacy.
·
These resources can help you find
savings on your medications:
·
NCOA’s free BenefitsCheckUp screening tool lets you see if you can
get Extra Help, or assistance from PAPs and SPAPs.
·
NeedyMeds lets you
search by drug name for available PAPs, coupons, and comparison shop at
different pharmacies in your area.
·
GoodRx also lets
you print coupons and search for savings on prescriptions at pharmacies in your
community.
You can also contact a Benefits Enrollment Center or Senior
Health Insurance Assistance Program in your community to help
you apply for benefits to help pay for your prescription drugs.
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